Michael DeBose (D), House District 12

Michael DeBose told the Cleveland Plain Dealer it's tough to be a Democrat in the Republican-controlled Ohio legislature... He was appointed to fill the vacant Ohio House of Representatives District 12 seat in 2002. DeBose opposes allowing people to carry concealed weapons.

"I have seen too many people killed by guns over the years," he told the Plain Dealer. "I've been a robbery victim myself and have had a gun pulled on me. I don't see the benefit of allowing people to carry guns."

OFCC PAC has endorse his opponent, Republican Anthony Cefaratti of Maple Heights.

David Pomerantz (D), House District 17

Democrat David Pomerantz is against the concealed-weapons law, and in the Plain Dealer, he called it a "serious danger to Ohioans, particularly children."

Pomerantz is hoping to unseat two-time OFCC PAC endorsee Rep. James Trakas (R).

Trakas told the newspaper he supports concealed-carry because Ohioans living in rural areas where only a sheriff's department provides countywide law enforcement were concerned about personal security.

Bobby Bland (D), House District 18

In a pre-election interview with the Plain Dealer, Bobby Bland said he opposes concealed carry law. "The less guns the better. We need more policemen."

Bland is hoping to unseat two-time OFCC PAC endorsee Rep. Thomas Patton (R).

Patton told the newspaper that in states with similar laws, "crimes against women have dropped dramatically. I have five daughters, so that means a lot to me."

The Chillicothe Gazette is reporting that Ross Co. Sheriff Ron Nichols has found yet another important use for the equipment sheriffs purchased to issue concealed handgun licenses.

His office is making good use of the machinery it purchased to make concealed- carry weapon permits by making photo identifications of each poll worker who will be working on November 2. The ID cards are created in minutes using a digital camera, laptop computer and portable card printer -- the same printer used to create licenses to carry a concealed handgun.

Nichols told the Gazette it will help officers identify each worker and establish their legitimate reason for handling the voting machines and ballots.

In August, Nichols announced that his office was rolling out a program called KidPrint ID that uses the CHL equipment to give parents an identification card containing a recent photo, physical description and thumb print. The parents then keep the card and can turn it over to authorities should their child go missing.

Concealed-carry opponents have complained about the initial expense of this equipment, which was a one-time cost of about $8000.

Sheriff Ron Nichols is making the most of his investment, and we hope Ohio's 87 other sheriffs will follow his lead.

Police: Armed Man Attempts To Abduct Woman Outside Mall

A search is under way in Stark County for a man who tried to abduct a woman outside of a mall, reported NewsChannel5.

Police in Jackson Township told reporters a 20-year-old woman had just left Belden Village Tuesday afternoon when she was approached by a man with a gun.

Police said the man forced her into her car and began to drive away.

"He had a gun and he told me to get into my car and he got in beside me and I jumped out when he started driving in the parking lot," the woman said.

Tim Escola, of the Jackson Township police, is urging people to use caution in the area. "I would suggest for anyone that goes to the mall or any area where there's a large group of people, to park in lighted area, stay with a group if at all possible," Escola was quoted as saying to NewsNet5.

The news report also quotes mall security as telling workers not to walk alone in the parking lot – day or night

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Commentary:
Avoiding walking alone is not an adequate self-defense measure. Two, ten (or even fifty) people can be subdued by one criminal with a gun. This woman was extremely lucky.

Unfortunately, although she can take up arms in defense of her country, Ohio law says she cannot bear arms for the defense of her own life until she turns 21. This should not be.

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